IFL Announces Instant Replay Challenge System

[David]

2.13.18 -

GRAND ISLAND, NE - The Indoor Football League has announced that it will adopt an Instant Replay Challenge system for the 2018 IFL Season.

The league announced on Tuesday it has struck a partnership deal Vidswap to create an Instant Replay system. For the first time in league history, all IFL Head Coaches have been granted the ability to challenge a call on the field.

The challenge system will be similar to the NFL's system, in which a team's head coach can throw a challenge flag to review a questionable ruling on the field. The head referee will act as the replay official and view a video review of the challenged play. On-field rulings will be reversed if there is clear video evidence that convinces the referee was incorrect on the play call. If the video is inconclusive, the referee will allow the play to stand.

The Coach's Challenge will include catch/no catch, fumble/no fumble, positive yardage gained vs not gained, three men in motion, forward progress stopped/not stopped on a loose ball play, Touchdown/No Touchdown, offsides on kicking teams, forward pass vs backward pass, illegal twist/no illegal twist, defensive pass interference, offensive pass interference, belt violation vs no belt violation, and runner down vs not down.

One ruling that cannot be reviewable involve gain plays involving first downs.

IFL Coaches are allowed two challenges per game. If both challenges are successful, the coach will earn a bonus third challenge.

- DKH

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[spiderfan]

I like the idea of Instant Replay coming into in the IFL. 

[David]

Overdue in some aspects. I especially was amused about challenging three men in motion. Mainly because Salt Lake's game winning TD against Spokane at the end of the season was as a result of a three men in motion penalty that didn't get called. Basically killed Spokane's playoff chances.

[DiamondThief]

This may not seem like a big move by pedestrian standards, but it's a big move by the IFL, and I commend them for it. One of the things I had appreciated about the televised IFL games is that you could hear the head official's thought process as he was reviewing plays and making his determination. I hope the IFL replay system includes that feature, given that all the games are broadcast on YouTube.

[Yeseeka]

I think this takes the IFL to the next level. Angi's right about the YouTube effect. Since all the games are streamed it's a solid move.